ATTORNEY FOR MCKEESPORT MAN ACCUSES PROSECUTORS OF MISCONDUCT

The lawyer for a McKeesport man convicted of first-degree murder at a hotel in New Stanton has accused prosecutors of misconduct during the 2016 trial. The Trib reports that Christipher Smarr was convicted during a week-long trial and was ordered to spend 45 years to life in prison. His attorney, Chris Rand, said that the prosecution failed to adequately disclose key information regarding federal charges against an eyewitness, and that his client’s prior lawyer failed to provide an adequate defense. Judge Meghan Billik-Defazio ordered prosecutors and defense attorneys to submit written arguments before a ruling is issued on the new appeal.